Our post season continued this weekend with the first round of NCAA Tournament. We were playing Illinois State who we had lost to 1-3 earlier in the season and we were very excited to avenge our loss. Also it was the first time in our team history that Milwaukee was hosting an NCAA game. When we found out who we were playing we were so excited that we wanted to play them right then and there. The week of practice leading up to the game was extremely intense with all of us extra focused because our main goal this season was to go far in the NCAA Tournament. By the time the game came around we were nervous but confident because we knew that we prepared well.
The game was a Friday night under the lights, aka the best place to be in Milwaukee on a Friday night! The crowd was great as always. The game started off with a furious pace, we put them under high pressure right away and we won a corner. Kiki hit a great corner and Apple went up and beat everyone to the ball and put us up 1-0. It was only three minutes into the game so we knew there was plenty of time left but we were very happy with our start. The rest of the half was back and forth so we went into half time up 1-0.
We knew that the first 10 minutes of the second half were critical because if Illinois State gets an early goal then they are back in the game. As predicted them came out hard in the second half and we had to weather a storm of corner kicks by them but we stayed strong together and were able to not give up a goal. Our defense played amazing, with Forbes coming up big in the second half. Then we got the ball down on the left side and Apple got the ball off a throw in which she took a quick shot that their goalie was able to deflect but Krissy was there to put in the rebound. There was about 15 minutes left in the game and while we were feeling really good about where we were in the game we knew that Illinois State wasn’t going to give up. Then in the 85th minute Morgan laid off a great ball and Kiki smashed home the exclamation point to our win. The game ended 3-0 and it was the first out right win of UWM women’s soccer team history in the NCAA tournament.
It was an AMAZING win with everyone playing great, our bench was awesome and the energy at Engelmann stadium was unmatched. An overall great weekend! We will play Ohio State in the second round but we are not sure where yet. (Editor's Note: Durham, N.C.)
Keep on supporting your Panthers and wish us luck in the second round of the NCAA Tournament!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nov 13, 2011
Nov 7, 2011
Horizon League Champs!
Last week was the end of our regular season so this weekend was the start of our post-season play. This weekend was the Horizon league tournament and we were hosting. We were the #1 seed so we got a first round by and only had to play Friday and Sunday.
Our Friday game was against Butler and, while the score during the regular season was lopsided, they gave us a very tough game so we had to be ready. The game had a great atmosphere and we were ready to come out and prove that our undefeated regular season was not a fluke. Butler came out in a very defensive formation and so we had the ball in their half most of the game. They were trying to frustrate us but we kept our cool and close to the end of the first half Kelsey Holbert had a great move on the end line to beat her defender. Then she hit a low driven cross that I was able to put away for us to get a 1-0 lead. At halftime we talked about not getting frustrated and to just keep the ball moving. The second half I thought we did a great job of keeping our head and keeping the ball but we couldn’t get another goal. The game ended 1-0 and while we would have liked to have scored more goals we were happy with the win and advancing to the finals.
The finals were held on Sunday and we were playing a very feisty Wright State team. Wright State came out with a lot of energy and unlike Butler was trying to attack us. It worked because they got an early goal but our team has a lot of maturity and experience so we knew this it is a long game. Then Wright State made the mistake of leaving Apple out wide 1v1 and she megged her defender and crossed the ball to Laurel who made a great run into the box and slotted the ball near post to tie the game 1-1. Then right before half time Morgan, Kelly, and Apple were hustling in the box and the ball popped out wide and Kelly calmly put the ball away in the low corner. We were up 2-1 at halftime and extremely happy with our response to being down a goal. We were also feeling that we had to momentum and it was very important to not let it go. We came out and really took it to Wright State and our seniors really took over. Kiki scored our next goal off a sick run through the Wright State defense and then hit a rocket of a shot into the side netting. Then we were awarded a free kick and Kenzie hit a perfect ball into the box that Apple was able to put away. Then Apple put the exclamation point on our finals win with an upper 90 blast from the top of the box. The game ended 5-1 and we are HORIZON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS FOR THE 4TH YEAR IN A ROW!!!!!
This senior class is the first class to win the tournament all 4 years and it is just a testament to all that they have done for UWM women’s soccer…….in the words of Apple “can you say dynasty?” This was a great weekend and now we are all waiting eagerly to find out whom we play in the NCAA tournament.
GO PANTHERS!!!!!
Our Friday game was against Butler and, while the score during the regular season was lopsided, they gave us a very tough game so we had to be ready. The game had a great atmosphere and we were ready to come out and prove that our undefeated regular season was not a fluke. Butler came out in a very defensive formation and so we had the ball in their half most of the game. They were trying to frustrate us but we kept our cool and close to the end of the first half Kelsey Holbert had a great move on the end line to beat her defender. Then she hit a low driven cross that I was able to put away for us to get a 1-0 lead. At halftime we talked about not getting frustrated and to just keep the ball moving. The second half I thought we did a great job of keeping our head and keeping the ball but we couldn’t get another goal. The game ended 1-0 and while we would have liked to have scored more goals we were happy with the win and advancing to the finals.
The finals were held on Sunday and we were playing a very feisty Wright State team. Wright State came out with a lot of energy and unlike Butler was trying to attack us. It worked because they got an early goal but our team has a lot of maturity and experience so we knew this it is a long game. Then Wright State made the mistake of leaving Apple out wide 1v1 and she megged her defender and crossed the ball to Laurel who made a great run into the box and slotted the ball near post to tie the game 1-1. Then right before half time Morgan, Kelly, and Apple were hustling in the box and the ball popped out wide and Kelly calmly put the ball away in the low corner. We were up 2-1 at halftime and extremely happy with our response to being down a goal. We were also feeling that we had to momentum and it was very important to not let it go. We came out and really took it to Wright State and our seniors really took over. Kiki scored our next goal off a sick run through the Wright State defense and then hit a rocket of a shot into the side netting. Then we were awarded a free kick and Kenzie hit a perfect ball into the box that Apple was able to put away. Then Apple put the exclamation point on our finals win with an upper 90 blast from the top of the box. The game ended 5-1 and we are HORIZON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS FOR THE 4TH YEAR IN A ROW!!!!!
This senior class is the first class to win the tournament all 4 years and it is just a testament to all that they have done for UWM women’s soccer…….in the words of Apple “can you say dynasty?” This was a great weekend and now we are all waiting eagerly to find out whom we play in the NCAA tournament.
GO PANTHERS!!!!!
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